Starring; Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Lauren Sweetser, and Garret Dillahunt
Lets skip the pleasantries as this story has none. This film is about survival in its bleakest form - think an Indie version of 'Precious' meets '8-mile', set amongst the snowy highlands of Missouri. (Yes, maybe Precious may have gnawed her way to safety through a wild animal. And no, there is unfortunately no gangster rapping. Here we have 'hick criminal meth-heads' and banjo's).
When 17yr old, Ree Dolly (Lawrence), is forced to track down her fugitive, 'crystal meth maker', and missing father (as their house has been put-foreward as the bail bond for the court case he just skipped)...she is to call upon the most gritty, and hauntingly erratic, local ring of criminal crystal meth users/makers for his whereabouts. Daughter to an incapacitated mother, she has raised both her younger siblings - though still too young to 'fend' for themselves, her father is their only chance at survival in the freezing highlands of central America.
Incredibly eerie, and hauntingly suspenseful. This thriller won the Sundance 'Grand Jury Price' for a reason. Extremely great performances unravel a gruesome tale, that at sometimes seems a little slow, but for the better part is undeniably captivating and chilling. A wonderful, and very real insight, into a place I never want to visit, hear about, or see again!
Check it out if your in the mood for an indie-film.... if not.... slot your worn-out version of 'Love Actually' back in the DVD player.
(Alternate review also to be published in 'Scene Magazine', QLD)
Benjamin.
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